The fountain of youth is full of . . . microbes -- Your microbes are glowing: the skin microbiome -- Mind your microbes: microbes and the brain -- Healthy smile, healthy you: the oral microbiome -- Take a deep breath: the lung microbiome -- Belly bugs: the stomach microbiome -- Microbe mecca: the gut microbiome -- Love bugs: the heart and the microbiome -- Females are not small males: menopause and the vaginal microbiome -- Microbes meet cancer -- The microbe tug-of-war: the immune system -- Flex your microbes: the musculoskeletal system -- Too clean, or not too clean: environmental microbes -- The fountain of youth is full of microbes: the future of the whole-body microbiome.

Abstract:

"Explores the role that the human microbiome (including, but not limited to, the gut) plays in aging. Includes emerging research and personal health tips"-- Provided by publisher.

Summary

Learn the secret to total, lifelong health: the teeming world of microbes inside and all around us

Modern-day science has allowed us to prolong and improve life in astonishing ways, often by fending off germs and other invisible foes. But there's no "immunity" to the inevitable signs of aging . . . or is there?

In The Whole-Body Microbiome , the father-daughter team of Dr. Brett Finlay (a microbiologist) and Dr. Jessica Finlay (a specialist on aging) offers a different--and truly revolutionary--solution to the quest for the fountain of youth. While much has been written about bacteria in the gut, exciting new research shows that there are millions of microbes both inside our bodies--supporting our brain, teeth, heart, lungs, bones, immune system, and more; plus the microbes on our bodies, coming from the air we breathe and the things we touch all day long--cell phones and kitchen sponges, pets and doorknobs, and even other humans. These microbial "lifelong companions" have an immense impact on our daily health--and, as groundbreaking research is showing, they have the power to help prevent and reverse the most common age-related diseases.

In this eye-opening new take on the significance of the microbiome, the Finlays offer empowering knowledge, surprising myth-busters, and simple yet effective daily tips that prove "dirty" is the new clean. Whether it's by changing your diet, enjoying a glass of wine, getting more exercise, trading your antibacterial gel for good old soap and water, or spending more time outdoors, you can change your life today; so that you and your microbes live long--and prosper.

Author Notes

B. Brett Finlay, PhD , is the Peter Wall Distinguished Professor in the Michael Smith Laboratories at the University of British Columbia. A leading researcher on bacterial infection, he has been studying microbes for over thirty years and published over five hundred scientific articles. A cofounder of the biotech companies Commense, Vedanta, and Microbiome Insights, Dr. Finlay is an Officer of the Order of Canada, the highest Canadian civilian recognition. He is a coauthor of Let Them Eat Dirt: How Microbes Can Make Your Child Healthier.

Jessica Finlay, PhD , is a University of Michigan postdoctoral research fellow who specializes in environmental gerontology and health geography. With degrees from Queen's University and the University of Minnesota, she has won awards for her work and authored publications in leading health, geography, and gerontology journals.